Improved washing-machine



'UNITEDY STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

ROBERT HERMANGE, OF SGHUYLERSVILLE, NEW YORK. I

IM PROVED WASHING-.MACHINE Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 89,994, dated May 1l, 1869.

To all whom 'it may'concem:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HERMANCE, of

Schuylersville, in the county of Saratoga, andv to which my inventionappertains to make and.

use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction andoperation, referring to the annexed drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal verticalsection, and Fig. 2 a cross-section.

A represents a washing-reservoir, of any suitable construction ormaterial, inside of which is suspended a semicircular rack or agitator,consisting of two end pieces or end plates, B B, of semicular form atthe bottom, the upper side being formed of two inclined edges, higher inthe `center t-han at the ends,

as seen at Fig. 2.

The end pieces B B are connected by a series of round bars, 'a a, placedat suitable distances from each other along the rounded edges ofthe endpieces. The end pieces B B are slotted from the bottom to the center ofthe circular portion, which slots are, however,

on the inner side of the end pieces covered with a box-like projection,b, as seen in Fig. 1. In the ends of the receptacle A pins c c areinserted, on which pins the end pieces B B are suspended, the said pinsprojecting through the slots, and their inner ends covered by the boxesb b, so as not to injure the clothes.

In the bottomof "the rack `or agitator thus formed is placed a plate orboard, cl, extending the whole distance between the end pieces andprojecting both above and below the bars a a. On each side, at the topof the semicircle, is

another round bar, e, set in from the rest, as seen in Fig. 2.

The bars a a and e I have described as being round; but they may be madeof any shape desired, in the form of slats or bars, and with the rest ofthe agitator be made either of wood or metal, or both.

From one of the end pieces B a lever or handle, C, extends upward abovethe upper edge of the receptacle, the lid D being, for that purpose, cutout or made shorter than the boiler, allowing the lever to be moved fromside to side.

The articles to be washed are placed inside of the agitator, and the boxor receptacle Ais placed upon a stove or other place, and by means ofthe handle O the agitator is rocked backward and forward. The board d,projecting above the bars a a, keeps the clothes up from said bars, andthe said board project- -ing below the bars increases the agitation.

`'Ihe bars e e, set in from the rest, keep the clothes from falling out,and also increase the agitation.

In this manner the clothes are rapidly forced through the water, and thewater through the clothes, and any fabric, however light and fragile,maybe thoroughly washed and cleansed without the slightest injury to thesame.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The board or strip d, extending from one end of the rack to theother, and made to project below the bars a, when used in the manner andfor the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the board d, the

' semicircular end pieces B, boxes b b, bars a and c, and handle C, whenused in the manner and connection as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 9th day of February, 1869.

' ROBERT HERMANGE. [n s] Witnesses:

W. W. D. JEFFERs, C. W. HERMANGE.

